Democratic front-runners spar in Iowa

Clinton, Edwards, Obama virtually tied in poll

August 20, 2007|By Anne E. Kornblut The Washington Post

DES MOINES, Iowa — The leading Democratic presidential contenders sounded a note of caution about a precipitous withdrawal from Iraq during a largely civil debate Sunday that also returned to the familiar themes of experience and electability.

Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois drew fire from his rivals for his relative lack of political experience, but amid subtle digs from Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson over his approach to foreign policy, he calmly took the heat.

"You know, to prepare for this debate, I rode in the bumper cars at the state fair," Obama said, drawing laughs from the audience.

It was the first major Democratic debate in Iowa and, for the contenders, perhaps the most important one as they approach Labor Day, the unofficial start of an intensive four months of campaigning until the nation's first caucuses here.

Nowhere is the nominating competition tighter. ABC moderator George Stephanopoulos opened the debate by describing a three-way tie in Iowa: 27 percent of likely caucus voters support Obama, according to the latest Washington Post-ABC News poll, and Clinton and former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina both have the backing of 26 percent. Next was Richardson, at 11 percent.

Yet the overall tenor of the discussion was mild, even positive. The candidates touched on the subject of whether Clinton was too polarizing to win the general election, as outgoing White House adviser Karl Rove postulated last week and reiterated on three Sunday talk shows.

They answered a question about whether prayer can prevent tragedy (at least one, Edwards, said no), another on helping small farmers and a third on what they consider the turning point in their lives (Clinton said it was the women's movement; Richardson said it was marrying his wife of 35 years).

Outside the debate hall at Drake University in Des Moines, huge crowds of supporters gathered, waving signs in support of the candidates. In homes around the state, television viewers caught glimpses of the campaign ads now flooding the airwaves in Iowa.

The newest Democratic ad - a somber commercial from Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware claiming that he is the only candidate with a plan to end the war in Iraq - came up as a debate question, and it triggered a spirited back-and-forth over how best to bring U.S. troops home.

It was perhaps the most in-depth discussion the candidates have had over their exit plans, and it revealed a field sharply divided, some advocating a quick withdrawal and others favoring one that takes longer and is more cautious.

Richardson has advocated withdrawing troops within six to eight months, and he pressed that view again in trying to draw distinctions with the front-runners.

"We have different positions here," said Richardson, a former U.S. chief delegate to the United Nations.

"I believe that if you leave any residual forces, then none of the peace that we are trying to bring can happen. And it's important."

Biden countered: "If we leave Iraq and we leave it in chaos, there'll be regional war. The regional war will engulf us for a generation. It'll bring in the Shia, it'll bring in the Saudis, it'll bring in the Iranians, it'll bring in the Turks."

Clinton, Edwards and Obama said in effect that they supported Biden's position, cautioning that it will be necessary to leave some troops behind to assist Iraqi forces and Iraqis who have helped Americans on the ground.